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Bits and Bytes: Forget Parse, Use Azure Mobile Services to Create an API for your Mobile App or Website

When you are building a mobile app or a website mostly likely you are going to need some type of data repository. This can be either files, video or in the form of a “database”. In order to access these repositories you need some sort of access mechanism. Sometimes it is a library or SDK others it is a connection to the database. However, with a mobile app or even websites that are distributed the connection to these repositories can be tricky. You need to create some sort of endpoint for these. Back in the day these were called Web Services now they are called API or Web API’s. Creating them can be time consuming as well. You have to create all of the routines needed to get and put data. You will need to create authentication mechanisms to make sure the proper user is getting and putting data. All in all this could be very time consuming.

Until today! Enter in Azure Mobile Services. A quick and easy way to consume an API endpoint for iOS, Android, Windows and HTML/JavaScript. We will look at creating these API’s using the “Classic Azure Portal”.

If you want to use the new method of Azure App Services, here is a video as well.

First off, make sure you sign up for your Azure account before we begin.

Create Mobile Service

Login to the Classic Azure Portal. Click on NEW -> MOBILE SERVICE -> CREATE

Enter a url for your clients to access the service.

Choose eiher an existing SQL Server or Create a New SQL Server (this is used to host your database).

Done

Create Your Data Table(s)

Click on the Mobile Service name you just created.

In the navigation tab, select DATA.

On the bottom of the screen, click CREATE and choose a table name. You can also modify permissions if needed.

Done

Modify Your Schema

Click on the table name you just created and select COLUMN from the navigation tab.

On the bottom of the screen, click ADD COLUMN and add as needed.

You can connect to the Database you just created by using a SQL client tool and your connection string.

To find your connection string click on DB in the left nav, find your Database name and you will see your connection string.